UN envoy meets Burma's Suu Kyi

Mr Pinheiro wants an end to restrictions on the opposition

A UN rights envoy has met Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro is only the second outsider to meet her since she left hospital in September following a major operation.

Mr Pinheiro is visiting Burma to persuade the country's leaders to release her, and to investigate alleged forced labour and other abuses.

He also met members of Ms Suu Kyi's NLD party, who are also under house arrest.

It is not yet clear what Mr Pinheiro discussed with Aung San Suu Kyi. He met her at her lakeside home in the Burmese capital, Rangoon, where she has been held since September.

Before that she was detained, in the words of the Burmese leadership, "for her own protection", after clashes between her followers and pro-government supporters in May.

Prison visit

On Wednesday, Mr Pinheiro visited Insein prison, which is believed to hold between 1,200 and 1,300 political prisoners - many of whom are supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi.

He interviewed 20 of the prisoners and said many were sickly.

"Their condition is stable but the prison is awful, in terrible condition," he said.

"I am not just coming to monitor their situation but to demonstrate to the government that it is crucial to release all the political prisoners."

Last time Mr Pinheiro visited Insein he found a bugging device, leading him to abandon his mission prematurely.

On Tuesday, the UN envoy met Burmese Prime Minister Kyin Nyunt.

He spent over an hour with him, and said he found him "very attentive" to suggestions for the implementation of human rights.

The country's military has ruled Burma since 1962, and ignored an election victory by the NLD in 1990.